Councilman: Seawall wants Anderson Automotive property

Seawall Development Co. has the opportunity to buy the Anderson Automotive property that was supposed to be home to the planned 25th Street Station.

According to Councilman Carl Stokes, who represents the area, Bruce Mortimer has offered the company the chance to purchase the property. Stokes said that Seawall was currently doing its “due diligence” on the site but does want to purchase the 11 acre site.

“It’s likely they will accept and purchase the property,” Stokes said.

Calls to Seawall’s principals for comment were not returned.

Seawall’s interest in the property isn’t a surprise.

When Mortimer felt a previous developer, WV Urban Developments, wasn’t moving fast enough to build on the site he arranged a deal for Seawall to purchase the property. Eventually WV Urban Developments was able to hang on to the site, but last month it announced it was abandoning plans for a mixed-use development anchored by Wal-Mart on the site.

Seawall has been extremely active in trying to revitalize Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood where the Anderson Automotive property is located. The company has turned the former American Can building into the Miller’s Court mixed-use development, converted an old tire shop into a mixed-use development including a restaurant and a theater and is planning the mixed-use Remington Row project.

Remington resident Judith Kunst was a big supporter of the 25th Street Station concept and has previously expressed her disappointment the development fell through. But on Thursday she said she believes the community has faith in Seawall.

“They are a reliable company which is willing to work with the community,” Kunst said.